Hi there

I was wondering if anyone had experience with a circular polarizer on Contax 21mm Distagon using FF camera. I have a 5D MkII and was thinking of getting the B+W 82mm Kaesemann MRC Circular Polarizer (non slim, w front threads). I want a filter that will not cause vignetting. Any suggestions or advise would be appreciated.


Thanks Ziyad

I shot a B&W circular polarizer a few times with the 21, once I shot on a very sunny clear day and I found that with my angle to the sun/sky an area of the sky was extremely dark and I had a better image with out it. The lens is just so wide and I had so much sky in the shot that there was just always some part of the sky that be too dark for my taste, The filter was a thin type with out front threads and I did not see a problem vignetting. I tried a standard Hoya and did have problems with it.

That's the CPL that I use. If it worsens vignetting, it's not very noticeable. However, adding the W1 hood on top of the CPL will introduce slight vignetting.

The following are from 5DM2 + CZ Distagon 21/2.8 for Contax mounted using a Cameraquest adapter.

#1 f/8 bare (with and without the hood look the same)
#2 f/8 + CPL
#3 f/8 + CPL + Hood

Hope this helps.

Thanks Dennis and Peter. That was very helpful.

would a linear polarizer work as well?

I have a 105mm slim mount circular polarizer that I use with my Lee system. I works with my Contax Distagon 21mm and 18mm on my 1DSmkII with no vignetting. That said, the previous comments about sky do apply. However I do find the polarizer useful when photographing streams or water where I may not have sky and want a wide angle perspective.

ken.vs.ryu wrote:
would a linear polarizer work as well?

Of course, but the camera might not be able to focus confirm or accurately meter.

thrice wrote:
ken.vs.ryu wrote:
would a linear polarizer work as well?

Of course, but the camera might not be able to focus confirm or accurately meter.

I was afraid of that, thanks!

I wonder if it would make a difference if you used say a 95mm CPL with a step-up adapter?

Or buy a Lee filter system with a wide angle adapter